Will Smith opened up about the infamous Oscars slap in his talk with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show. The actor has recently worked on a new film, Emancipation, his first project after the disastrous incident at the Academy Awards early this year.
The Emancipation star revealed why he smacked comedian Chris Rock live on television, and what had caused such fury. Smith also told during a press interview his biggest concern involving the production team and the reluctance of people to watch the said movie.
Will Smith Reveals Why He Slapped Chris Rock At The Oscars
In his interview on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Will Smith shared what went on inside his mind when he slapped the comedian unhesitatingly. His explanation involved many “nuances and complexities”, and at the end of the day, he admitted that he just lost it. In a tearful speech, he added:
“I guess what I would say, you just never know what somebody’s going through. You just don’t know what’s going on with people. And I was going through something that night.”
The actor later revealed to Trevor Noah that he finally understood what the phrase “hurt people hurt people” meant, and claimed that it is the justification for his action. He also admitted that he had “no independent recollection” of what occurred and blamed the trauma he experienced as a child.
“It was the little boy watching his mother beat up his father. All of that bubbled up in that moment. You know, just, that’s not who I want to be. I was gone. That was a rage that had been bottled for a really long time.”
Smith kept quiet for months after he hit Chris Rock when the comedian made an offensive joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The scandal became the highlight of the event, but it was also one of Smith’s best nights as he received his Best Actor award for his role in King Richard.
Smith Redeems Himself In A New Movie Project
The Emancipation actor publicly apologized to Chris Rock and his family before his appearance on the talk show. Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following his 10-year ban from the Academy Awards.
The Suicide Squad actor is now back on screen with his latest project with Apple TV. Emancipation is directed by Antoine Fuqua, and it tells the story of a Black slave who fought for his life and freedom.
Catch Emancipation on Apple TV this December 9.
Source: Vulture
